Rhine in Flames 2020

Note that there may be small differences between our general Itinerary for this cruise and a specific departure.
To view departure specific itineraries please go to the Dates and Prices tab and click "View Itinerary" on a specific departure.

Rhine in Flames

As the summer sun sets over the Rhine valley, a flotilla of beautifully illuminated ships makes its way down the legendary Rhine, which basks in the glow of a thousand Bengal lights, while hilltop fireworks create shimmering cascades of colour high above the mountains, castles and vineyards. This is the Rhine in Flames, an annual celebration of the wine harvest season which brings joy to the towns and villages along the river, drawing visitors from near and far. Join the festivities on this relaxing cruise and visit treasured spots, including the cathedral city of Cologne and the quaint wine town of Rüdesheim, before taking up position for this breathtaking event. Nowhere is there a more extraordinary display of fire, water and light, as a fusion of sounds echo around the valley and a blaze of colour lights up the velvet night sky. It’s the legendary Rhine as you’ve never seen before and it’s nothing short of spectacular!

Day 1: UK – Andernach We travel to the quaint town of Andernach and board our ship for a relaxing evening.

Day 2: Andernach – Koblenz This morning you can relax on the sun deck as we cruise to one of the oldest and most beautiful towns in Germany, Koblenz. Here you can join our optional excursion for a trip on the Koblenz cable car, which offers breathtaking views across the region along with entrance to the magnificent Ehrenbreitstein Fortress.

Day 3: Koblenz – Rüdesheim Cruising further along the Rhine and into the spectacular Rhine Gorge, we reach the town of Rüdesheim. To really appreciate this region you can join our optional Rüdesheim highlights excursion, which features a panoramic ride to the heights of the gorge by cable car, while our Rüdesheim by night optional excursion takes you to a traditional wine cellar to sample some of the region’s best wines, before exploring the Drosselgasse – a narrow street lined with traditional wine houses and garden taverns.

Day 4: Rüdesheim – Mainz Today we cruise to the city of Mainz, at the confluence of the Rhine and Main rivers. You can explore at leisure or join our optional guided walking tour which is the perfect introduction to Mainz, a fascinating city heralded as the wine capital of Germany. Join us as we explore the old quarter and the modern city centre, plus we visit the Gutenburg Museum opposite the cathedral.

Day 5: Mainz – Boppard Our Rhine in Flames festival day gets off to a gentle start as we cruise back through the Rhine Gorge and around the Lorelei to reach Boppard. Tonight we witness the thrilling Rhine in Flames spectacle – see festival panel for details.

Day 6: Boppard – Andernach We cruise to Andernach. Join our optional excursion to enjoy a spot of wine tasting and free time in Ahrweillier before returning to our ship, where the evening can be spent exploring the narrow streets and riverside promenades of Andernach.

Day 7: Andernach – Bonn – Cologne We cruise to Bonn, the former capital of western Germany and birthplace of Beethoven. You can explore at leisure or join our optional trip on the Dragon Rock Railway which leads to the top of Drachenfels, a hill surrounded by legends. We then cast off for the final time and cruise to the mighty city of Cologne. You are then free to enjoy the remainder of the day in this beautiful city which is dominated by its huge gothic cathedral.

Day 8: Cologne – UK strong> This morning we bid farewell to our captain and crew and disembark for the return journey to the UK.

• Be a part of an exclusive number of the River Cruise Line customers to travel on this illuminating journey

We offer a number of flexible travel options for you to join your cruise, whether you want to travel to the port of departure or directly to the ship. Please see below:

Coach via Dover

On many of our cruises you can take advantage of our convenient and FREE regional coach departures aboard our modern executive coaches from a town or city near you to the port of departure and onwards to meet the ship.

Ferry crossing at Dover

When you travel by coach or car, you will join a ferry at Dover or Newcastle depending on your chosen cruise, and cross over to Europe. Our coach will then take you to meet our ship at the embarkation point as shown in the cruise itinerary. Newcastle and H1 route crossings take place overnight, adding 2 days to the cruise duration.

Overnight hotel in Dover or Ashford

Travel at your own pace, in the comfort of your own vehicle and stay overnight at Dover or Ashford, in accommodation close to the port of departure and be collected/returned by our coach. Prices start from £55 per night on a bed and breakfast basis and include parking for one vehicle for the duration of your cruise.

Join at Ship

Dates and pricing

The details below show the travel options, pricing and the available departure dates for this itinerary. If you have any questions about this cruise please do not hesitate to call our Holiday Advisors.

Enhance your holiday experience with a range of optional and included excursions that allow you to discover the history of our ports of call, experience the tradition of local regions and explore further afield. They’re the perfect complement to your cruise itinerary, but they are subject to availability so we recommend you book early!

Koblenz Cable Car & Ehrenbreitstein Fortress

£17

Enjoy an exhilarating ride across the Rhine on the Koblenz Cable Car, one of the largest cable cars in Europe outside the Alps, to visit the mighty Ehrenbreitstein Fortress, Europe’s second largest surviving fortress.

Rüdesheim Highlights

£24

A road train ride transports you to view fascinating examples of early 1900 mechanical music making systems at Siegfried’s Mechanical Music Museum. We also include a cable car ride to reach the Niederwald monument, with spectacular views along the way.

Rüdesheim by Night

£26

Visit a traditional wine cellar to sample some of the region’s best wines, before exploring the captivating Drosselgasse, which is filled with little taverns and courtyards and is the cultural heart of the town.

Mainz Walking Tour & Gutenberg Museum

£10

Roman Mainz, the cathedral, the old quarter and the modern city centre. This is a tour of Mainz’s history, from its beginnings to the present day. We also take a tour of the Gutenberg Museum, which is dedicated to Johannes Gutenberg and his inventions. Here we experience the history of printing, writing and books, plus we enjoy a demonstration of the printing press.

Ahr Valley Wine Tasting

£28

Join our coach as we venture into the most northerly winemaking region in Germany to enjoy an evening of wine tasting. The grapes that grow here on steep, terraced vineyards make glowing, velvety red wines which are among the best of their kind. It’s a tradition established by the Romans and one that continues to this day.

Dragon Rock Railway

£25

We take the mountain railway to the top of the Drechenfels, the landmark of the Siebengebirge and home to one of Germany’s most famous legends, where Siegfried slew the dragon that lived in a cave.

Package Price

£100 per person

You can book our excursions individually or as a package, but they are subject to availability so we recommend you book early!